Scientists have warned that the heat may pose significant risks to players and fans during the tournament which is taking place during June and July in North America, Canada and Mexico.
In an open letter, experts in health, climate and sports performance have said that the current guidelines are out of step with science. They have called on Fifa to introduce stronger protections to ensure the safety of players competing in the World Cup. The experts recommended that they introduce longer cooling breaks and clearer protocols for delaying or postponing games in extreme conditions.
The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is an index which is used to assess the heat stress that the body experiences. 28C is considered to be a threshold where heat stress is of concern and could be dangerous for athletes.
Miami, Kansas City, New York and New Jersey have been named as the high-risk venues where temperatures will reach a dangerous conditions for players and fans.
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London, Dr Chris Mullington said, "Above 28C, the risk of serious heat illness becomes more concerning - not only for players, but also for the hundreds of thousands of fans in stadiums and outdoor fan festivals. Heat stroke, the most severe form of heat illness, is life-threatening, and older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable."
FIFPRO Medical Director Dr Vincent Gouttebarge said that these estimations prove the need for better guidelines to protect players' health when playing in hot conditions.
"Our research shows that climate change is having a real and measurable impact on the viability of holding World Cups during the northern hemisphere summer. The 1994 World Cup may not feel particularly distant to many adults today, yet half of human-induced climate change has happened since then," said Dr Gouttebarge.
